CVE-2001-1552 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
ssdpsrv.exe in Windows ME allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service by sending multiple newlines in a Simple Service Discovery Protocol (SSDP) message. NOTE: multiple replies to the original post state that the problem could not be reproduced.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/15/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-1552 affects the ssdpsrv.exe component in Windows Millennium Edition operating system, which is responsible for handling Simple Service Discovery Protocol messages. This protocol is fundamental to network discovery services, enabling devices to locate each other on local networks and announce available services. The vulnerability manifests when the ssdpsrv.exe service receives malformed SSDP messages containing multiple newlines, which can trigger a denial of service condition that disrupts normal network discovery operations. This represents a classic buffer over-read or input validation flaw where the service fails to properly handle malformed input sequences, leading to service instability and potential unavailability of network discovery capabilities.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the SSDP message processing logic. When ssdpsrv.exe encounters an SSDP message with excessive newline characters, the parsing routine likely fails to properly terminate string processing or validate message boundaries, causing the service to crash or become unresponsive. This behavior aligns with CWE-129, Input Validation, and CWE-121, Stack-based Buffer Overflow, as the service does not adequately sanitize incoming network messages before processing them. The vulnerability operates at the network protocol level, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication or local access to the affected system. Attackers can simply craft malicious SSDP messages containing multiple newlines and send them to target systems running Windows ME, potentially disrupting network services for all connected devices.
The operational impact of CVE-2001-1552 extends beyond simple service disruption, as it affects the fundamental network discovery capabilities that many applications and services depend upon. In enterprise environments, this vulnerability could compromise the ability of network devices to automatically discover and communicate with each other, potentially affecting printer sharing, media streaming services, and other UPnP-enabled applications. The denial of service condition may persist until the affected service is manually restarted or the system is rebooted, creating extended downtime for networked applications. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1499.004, Network Denial of Service, where attackers exploit protocol implementation flaws to disable network services. The vulnerability's exploitation potential is particularly concerning given that Windows ME was widely deployed in home and small office environments where network discovery services were commonly enabled and relied upon for device connectivity.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on both immediate defensive measures and long-term architectural improvements. Network administrators should implement firewall rules to restrict SSDP traffic to trusted sources only, limiting the attack surface for remote exploitation. The most effective immediate solution involves applying Microsoft security patches that address the input validation issues in ssdpsrv.exe, though these may be limited given the age of Windows ME. System administrators should consider disabling unnecessary network discovery services when they are not actively needed, particularly in environments where the vulnerability cannot be immediately patched. Additionally, network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual SSDP traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, though the vulnerability's limited reproducibility suggests that exploitation may be inconsistent or require specific conditions to trigger successfully.